“Oh, he’s on leave,” he said with a shrug.
“You should ask him to dine. Why hasn’t he appeared at court?”
“He’s in mourning,” Demario said, a bit brusquely. “His wife and children were killed recently, and he’s taking time off.”
Teodora tried to remember who his wife was. She recalled some little mouse of a girl he’d once brought to the palace, but couldn’t imagine such a dull creature keeping his interest for long. “I suppose I understand why he doesn’t want to socialize. Send him my condolences.” She wondered if she ought to include a gift, but that might be in poor taste.
“I’ll tell him,” Demario said, then changed the subject.
“Your Highness, I feel it is my duty to tell you these things,” Elyse said a few days later, clearly nervous. She had dared to interrupt Teodora at her work and was likely prepared to have something thrown at her head.
“Tell me what?” Teodora put her quill down carefully, even as dread rose inside her.
“It might be nothing, but it seemed odd,” Elyse said, twisting her hands in front of her.
“Well then, out with it.”
“I came upon General Barela and Brytta this morning,” Elyse said.
Teodora sat up straighter. “Oh really? Where?”
“They were in the garden.” Elyse swallowed. “In that little pavilion by the upper fountain.”
“I know it.” It had been a favorite meeting place in the early days of their affair, when Teodora was still trying to hide it. “What were they doing?”
“Just talking. I even moved closer so I could watch them. They sat side by side on a bench. Just talking.”
“What did they say?” Teodora braced herself for the worst.
“They spoke in very low tones, not quite a whisper, but I wasn’t able to get close enough to hear without being found out. It seemed best to come to you.”
“You were right,” Teodora said. “You can leave the rest to me.”
Elyse left in a hurry, and Teodora slumped back in her chair. She might have known. Brytta was so pretty, so sweet. Men loved her, even though Teodora thought she seemed rather stupid and was always in tears about one thing or another. She didn’t know what to do, so she called for Livilla.
She needed her seldom these days, but Livilla still came quickly. “Oh dear,” she said, as soon as she saw Teodora’s face. “Has he ended it?”
“He wouldn’t dare,” Teodora said. “But it looks like he’s taken a mistress. One of my ladies-in-waiting.”
“Are you certain?”
“Quite. They were seen together in the upper pavilion.”
“Doing what, precisely?”
“Just talking. But what possible innocent reason could they have for whispering together there? Especially when it’s so cold outside, there are a hundred more comfortable spots for an innocent conversation.”
“I can’t think of any reason for either of them to have an innocent conversation with each other. I’m so sorry, my dear.”
“I don’t know what to do.” Falling in love had been a huge mistake. She had always feared something like this and now it had happened. All her triumphs turned to ash. Why hadn’t she sent him away before it came to this?
Arryk
By the time Arryk got into Zeelund, visited his bankers and procured boats, Mattila was close behind. He barely had time to land in Norovaea and shore up the coastal defenses, paltry as they were. One large, somewhat dilapidated fort commanded the southernmost approaches to the capital. Arryk landed all of his boats there and put his troops at the disposal of the garrison. Perhaps they could hold off Mattila here. Perhaps there would be a miracle and she wouldn’t come, bearing thousands of troops in dozens of ships.
“Your Highness must go on to Arenberg,” the grizzled commander at the fortress said. “If Mattila’s force is of any size we won’t hold her long here. You must see to the city defenses.”
“What defenses?” Arryk asked miserably. Arenberg was a relatively new city and had never had walls. He couldn’t believe the first invasion of Norovaea in four hundred years was happening on his watch.
“Whatever you can come up with,” the commander said. “Now go on. We’ll be all right.”
Arryk knew that couldn’t possibly be true, but he could hardly tell his own forces to surrender without a fight. He borrowed the commander’s horse and hurried on to Arenberg with only a few trusted officers.
Word of Mattila’s progress had come ahead of him and the city was in a panic. He found the palace in an uproar while Norvel Classen oversaw an evacuation.
“There’s no point in trying to defend this,” Classen said. “For one, we don’t have the troops, and even if we did, the fortifications won’t hold.”
Arryk had to agree, just glad that Classen wasn’t throwing this in his face. “At least it’s winter,” he said. “It’ll be hard for her to leave the city.”
“I doubt she’ll leave it before spring. But that gives us time to build up our defenses in the countryside. I believe you should make Vastivik fortress your headquarters.”
“Whatever you say,” Arryk said, “I’m getting my brother.”
He found Aksel at work in his laboratory.
“Come on man, pack up what you can.”
“I’m not going.” Aksel scribbled in a notebook and wouldn’t look up.
“You have to. They’ll capture you, and you don’t want that.”
“I’m sure it won’t be that bad.” Aksel finally looked at him. “Don’t you think it best one family member stay behind to treat with the enemy?”
“Treat with the enemy? What are you on about? We need to drive her back into the sea as soon as we can. There will be no negotiation.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Aksel said, putting his quill down. “There must be. You can’t fight her and win.”
“We’ll draw her into the countryside, wear her out. Shouldn’t take more than a few months.”
“What if she doesn’t go into the countryside? She can wait you out right here, until you’re starving. Someone needs to talk to her.”
“It won’t be you. Come on. Pack up your things. That’s an order.”
“I won’t do it.” Aksel had never been so stubborn. “You can’t make me.”
“I can,” Arryk said, his patience thin, “and I will. If you aren’t ready to go in an hour, I’ll send someone to get you. You have to go.”
“I’m sorry, but I won’t. You’ll have to carry me out.”
“I will then,” Arryk said. “I’ve already lost nearly everything, I’m not losing you too.” He turned on his heel and slammed the door behind him. As soon as he spotted one of the palace guards he said, “See that Prince Aksel is packed and ready to go within the hour. If he resists, carry him out.”
He noticed the guard’s raised eyebrows as he turned to go. Arryk turned back. “I mean it. Gather up several sturdy fellows and make my brother leave.”
Teodora
“Surely, you can appreciate Mattila’s accomplishments,” Solteszy began.
“Don’t even start with me,” Teodora screamed, throwing the letter onto the floor and stomping on it. “I specifically told her not to do that. I don’t need her to subdue Norovaea. I need her in Kronland to take Birkenfels, bring Terragand into line and subdue Podoska. And I must be sure that Lennart has no plans to invade.”
First came Mattila’s message that she was staying in Norovaea until she had completely defeated Arryk. That was followed by the news that Lennart Ostberg had married Raysa Sikora in a magnificent wedding in Novuk. Teodora was floored. Even though she was on bad terms with her brother, Raysa was her niece, and she should have been invited, not informed by a spy after the fact.
“What is Mattila playing at?” she raged. “Does she think to rule Norovaea herself?”
“I doubt it,” Solteszy said, staying well out of Teodora’s way. “If she occupies even part of Norovaea, you should be able to get very favorable
terms from Arryk Roussay.”
“I don’t need favorable terms from him if he’s slunk off back home. I need him to stay there and I need Mattila to mind my borders. If there’s peace between Sanova and Estenor I can’t imagine what they’re up to. What if Sanova makes a play for Terragand? What if Lennart grabs Helvundala?” Teodora clutched at her head, which had been aching for some time now. It seemed she was never to get so much as a moment’s respite.
“You’re correct that the peace is worrisome, far more than Mattila’s actions. It might be wise to deploy Ensden and Barela into Kronland, just to be safe.”
“I’ll send Ensden, but I want Barela here. I can’t risk trouble from another quarter and you know how it likes to pop up.”
“Indeed,” Solteszy said, though he seemed unbothered. “Though it’s possible that Sanova and Estenor are simply exhausted. I wonder why a marriage has happened now. Everyone seemed certain Raysa would marry a prince of Briansk and secure that border.”
“It was Princess Gwynneth.” Teodora stamped her foot. “I’d heard she was in Novuk and never imagined she’d succeed in this. It makes me wonder what kinds of promises she extracted from Lennart since I’m certain she’ll want him to act against me.” Teodora wished she could confide in Demario, but it wasn’t possible now. She needed a friend. And then she remembered. “Did Daciana get here?”
“Yes, she did. I made her disband her people, though, and come here alone. She has accumulated the most disreputable horde.”
“Disreputable, but effective. I think she might be able to neutralize Podoska by herself. At least I won’t need Mattila for that. Send her in.”
It was good to see Daciana. “How is it you still look like a girl?” Teodora asked, after they’d embraced and settled into chairs with glasses of her best wine.
“I bathe in the blood of virgins.” Daciana grinned.
Teodora assumed she was joking, though you could never be sure. “I would do the same, but there aren’t any in Atlona. And ruling is giving me gray hair. It’s dreadful.”
“Yes, fighting is much easier.” Daciana refilled her own glass and topped off Teodora’s. “Such a viper’s nest around here.”
“You have no idea.” Teodora dropped her voice. “I can’t trust anyone.”
“Not even your man?” Daciana’s tone was derisive.
“Especially not him. He’s having an affair with Brytta.”
Daciana spit out her wine. “What? He betrays you with one of your own ladies? Shall I kill him for you?”
“No, I haven’t decided what to do about him, but I’ll do something.”
Anton
“So it’s all clear to you?” The count wasn’t taking any chances it seemed. He and Anton were both mounted, armed and armored and ready to go their separate ways.
“Yes, we’ve been over it a thousand times.” Anton was impatient to get going. This was a serious mission, with serious consequences if it failed. This time, it wasn’t just the count who would be killed if they were caught. It would include Anton himself, Braeden, and many other important people. Anton still wasn’t sure what to make of Braeden, but he wanted him to live for his mother’s sake. It felt good to help someone who’d loved her very much.
“All right then. I need to go.” The count looked grim, which was unusual for him. He’d sent nearly all of his troops into Tirovor. From there they would make their way to Galladium, where with any luck, they would be reunited after the mission. The count was taking only a few hundred of his best fighters into Olvisya.
He paused before turning to the road. “One more thing. Once you have the prince and Commander Terris on board, I want you to go, even if I’m not there yet.”
“But—” Anton began.
“No, listen. If all goes well, I’ll be right there with them. But I don’t want to risk the mission if I’m delayed.”
“How will you get away?” Anton shivered. The count was the only family he had. Or at least the only family-type person aside from a surprise stepfather.
“You know me.” The count shrugged. “I always get away. I’ll have money and will take another ship, or make for Marjatya if that doesn’t work out. I’ll get to Galladium in any case. You can wait for me there. Or you can go with Commander Terris if you’d rather.”
Anton was taken aback. He hadn’t so much as considered the possibility. “I’d rather go with you, sir.”
The count looked at him long, his eyes unreadable. “I appreciate that. You’re a better sort than anyone in my family ever was. But you must take care of yourself first.”
“I will.” Anton said it so the count would just go already. Anton had his own work to do. He rubbed Cid’s nose one last time, then turned Skandar aside to join his own escort of ten troopers.
The count disappeared into the woods. He and his troops would stay in them, off the main roads until they were close to Atlona. Once there, they would wait for Barela’s signal. Anton had to move fast if he was going to have everything ready in time.
He headed straight south, for the port of Capo, just a few hours’ ride from Atlona. Once they got the prince out of prison, they would bring him there, put him on a ship and sail all the way around Cesiano and Maladena to Galladium. Anton found the thought of a sea voyage exciting, even though they would stay in sight of land most of the time.
At the port, Anton had one of the men find lodgings while he went straight to the docks. Once he showed his coin, it was an easy matter to find ships for hire. He needed a fast one. “Can you be ready to go within the week?” he asked the captain of a likely-looking one.
The fellow was a Maladene, proud and haughty, who tried looking down his nose at Anton. “I’m ready to go now,” he said. “You pay extra if you want me to wait.”
“I can do that,” Anton said, making a point of looking him in the eye. He was glad now he had grown so tall, though he wished the rest of him had caught up and he weren’t so skinny. “You must be fast, too.” He dropped his voice. “There will be a small chance of pursuit.”
The captain looked unimpressed. “This is the fastest ship here. No one will catch her. If there is no wind, my crew can row. They are very good at this.”
“All right then,” Anton said, laying a heavy purse on the table between them. “You’ll get another when we reach Galladium safely.”
The captain still affected nonchalance, but was clearly taken aback by the weight of the purse and that it was full of gold. “How is it a youngster like yourself has come into such funds?”
Anton tried to look bored. “That’s hardly any of your business.” The count had given him enough money to hire two ships, but he hated being questioned because of his youth. After his brief brush with poverty in Zeelund, Anton always had money. Sometimes he got it from the count, and he also got his share whenever they plundered a town or temple. While many fellows grabbed the first things they saw, Anton took his time and waited for gold or jewelry. It took a little patience and willingness to search in places no one might expect.
As a result, Anton could now afford to dress like a young lord, with fine lace at his collar and around his boots. He also had a large hat with an enormous feather and felt he looked quite the dandy. Though hopefully, a tough dandy with a sword, two daggers and a pistol at his belt. He couldn’t help but swagger just a little.
Kendryk
Kendryk was walking in the garden with Karil when he saw a flash of blue cloak and blonde hair. Gwynneth? He came to a sudden halt and Karil ran ahead.
“Someone’s come to see you,” he said.
No, it wasn’t Gwynneth. He was sure, though he hadn’t seen his wife in over four years. This woman was shorter, her features not as fine, her expression more timid. Very pretty, all the same. Kendryk smiled widely. “Good afternoon.”
“Good afternoon, Your Grace.” She curtsied. It had been some time since anyone had addressed him that way. “I’m Baroness Brytta Prosnytz, a friend of a friend.”
“Shall we si
t?” Though it was cold, Kendryk preferred to talk in the garden with the guards out of earshot. “Karil, can you ask about something to drink for us?”
Brytta sat but said, “I can’t stay long. I shouldn’t even be here.”
“I don’t understand. Are you here on behalf of King Gauvain?”
“I am a friend of the king’s,” she said, looking around nervously. “But I’m not here in an official capacity. I came to warn you.” She looked around once again and pulled something from her sleeve. “Take this.”
Without thinking, Kendryk grabbed it and wrapped it in a corner of his cloak. “What on earth are you doing? And what are you warning me of?” He worried the guards might see, but Karil had somehow diverted their attention from his intriguing visitor and was keeping them occupied.
“Someone may try to kill you soon,” Brytta whispered. “It’s also possible someone else will help you escape.”
“What? That makes no sense at all.”
“Things are coming to a head,” Brytta said. “I won’t be back, I’m sure of it. But someone else will come and when he does you must do as he says.”
“This person won’t try to kill me?”
“No. We hope he can come undetected. But if he is found out, it’s possible the empress will try to have you killed. So keep that dagger close to you always.”
“All right,” Kendryk said, finding the story fantastical beyond belief. Then something occurred to him. “Did my wife send this person to help me escape?”
Brytta cocked her head. “I’m not sure exactly who’s behind this. I just do as I’m told. I’m worried though, that I’m about to get caught and that’s why I’m here. It’s not part of the plan, but it will be several weeks before your next scheduled visitor and I can’t wait that long. With any luck, you’ll be gone by then.”
Kendryk wondered if she was mad. Brytta had lovely blue eyes, but they glittered feverishly and she seemed terribly nervous.
The Desolate Empire Series: Books 1-3 Page 94
